Holiday cheer with the M70s

[Hegland]

Merry Christmas you guys. While out at the folks' I was able to spend some time with the .270 and .338. I've had these loaded up for a while but have been finishing up school stuff for the semester and traveling for work for what seems like 2 months straight.

For the .270 I settled on a load with the 130 E-Tip; H4831, right at 2900 fps and right around an inch. Still room for improvement but for sure minute-of-venison. M70 Featherweight and a straight 6-power Leupold:
View attachment IMG_0804.JPG

The .338 was more exploratory, but I got some pretty good leads on it as well. The 180 AB showed well with both a starting load of IMR4350, also at 2900 fps
View attachment IMG_0799.JPG

and with RL19 for 3000 fps on the nose.
View attachment IMG_0809.JPG

Each of these had a sigma of less than half a percent. I also started development on the 210 PT, also with RL19. I only loaded to the mid level, but for me that's where it seemed to start to come alive. I'll continue work on this at a later date. Rifle is a stock Sporter with a 3-9 VXII.
View attachment IMG_0807.JPG

We have an antlerless centerfire season coming up in January, and I'm really thinking these two are what I'll go with. The .30-06 has been my standard back-up over the last couple years but with groups like this, the .338 is begging to be hunted. I realize there isn't a whitetail on earth for which a .338 is really necessary but I'm anxious to get some blood on this thing. And at relatively modest speeds, especially with the 4350, it shouldn't tear up too much meat.

Happy holidays, and be safe during the new year!

 

[CatskillCrawler]

Two sharp rifles ya got there Heg. Looks like you're getting close load wise too. My friend's father hunted WTs with his 338WM this year to get more experience with it. No reason why you can't also. That 180gr AB at 2900-3k fps is a great deer load.

Good Luck on your doe hunt.

 

[Woodycreek]

Im starting to really like M70s after years of being a Remmy 700 fan. Every M70 I have seen at the range this year have been shooters. That 270 should come along just fine and the 338 looks like its ready to hunt. What county in Iowa are you hunting with centerfire rifles? I have hunted in Clinton a few times and hope to hunt in Van Buren soon.

 

[DrMike]

Hegland,

You've done well with those two rifles. I do believe they will work just fine for whitetail. I've been using the 130 grain E-Tip in my 270 WSM for the past three years. I can testify that the bullet will certainly deliver game. You're getting some good velocity which should stand you in good stead. Your 338 is coming along nicely. You'll be well equipped for deer come January.

Brian,

All of my Model 70s shoot far better than they should. I'm grateful that Winchester is back and producing a quality product.

 

[SJB358]

Hegland, very cool pair of M70's. A totally perfect duo of rifles. A guy could never ask for a better matched pair, and as usual, they are both excellent shooters. Great load work up as well. Those are some excellent deer fetchers for certain. Looking forward to your 210 PT work. I am thinking I might give it a try this year, time permitting. Scotty

 

[Hegland]

Thank you guys!

WC - The centerfire season is only in the southern two tiers of counties. I'll be further west around the Rathbun area.

Big Red has sold me on these rifles as well. Good products, well made and competitively priced. Got to love it. And I''ll be the first to admit that I'm not a fan of Remington's current owners. Between their cost cutting measures (which are only too obvious) and jacked-up prices, 700s are no longer the bargain they used to be. I'm not giving up just yet though. The SPS .223 that I bought a couple years ago produced the best group of any rifle I've ever owned, and somehow, a limited edition stainless CDL chambered for .280 followed me home from Scheels last week... :shock:

Here's hoping it will shoot!

 

[Oldtrader3]

I have owned a couple of model 70's and used them for awhile. The main load that I have settled on for the 130 Partition is 55.0 grains of IMR 4350, with a BR-2 primer and W-W cases. In my 24 inch barreled Model 70 it shoots at 3060 fps and is way sub-MOA to 300 yards. This load has killed a lot of deer for me out to 400 yards. It is not that hot but should be worked up to.

 

[jmad_81]

Those are a couple of fine looking (and shooting) Winchesters you have there. Big fan of both of the calibers as well.

 

[JD338]

Nice pair of 70's.

JD338

 

[Hegland]

The main load that I have settled on for the 130 Partition is 55.0 grains of IMR 4350

Thanks for the tip! I've found H4350 to do very well with 130-grain bullets also. I think the natural inclination, especially with this cartridge, is to jump to the slower powders but the 4350 burn rate just seems to really work well with the .30-06 case and its offspring.

I'll probably give it a whirl in the .280 as well.

 

[Oldtrader3]

Hegland, I was able to get the 160 gr Partition to 3010 fps in a 22 inch barreled .280 Rem (not the AI), A-Bolt, with 58.0 gr of IMR 7828 SSC and a magnum Fed 215 Mag Match primer. Accuracy was 3/4 to 7/8 MOA for 5-shot groups. There were no pressure signs and that is within about 80 fps of my 7mm Rem Mag with that bullet. I would approach that load from below though in your rifle.